Details: The 25th Annual Farpoint Science Fiction Convention comes to Hunt Valley, MD February 9-11, 2018. This awesome convention offers science fiction fans of all ages a weekend full of fun! You won’t want to miss the amazing presentations on science fiction, fantasy, comics and science topics or workshops on costuming, writing and swordplay and especially the oppurtunities for gaming, charity and art auctions or entertaining events such as dance, karaoke and costume contest.

Cost: Friday single day ticket $15.00. Saturday single day ticket $60.00. Saturday evening after 6PM ticket $10.00. Sunday single day ticket $40.00. Weekend tickets for children ages 5 and under are Free with paying adult.

Join Far Point for geeky fun! Find Farpoint at www.FarpointCon.com, Farpoint Convention on Facebook or @FarpointCon on Twitter.

INDOOR PLAYGROUND HOURS- ANDREWS AIRFORCE BASE JBA (BASE ACCESS ONLY)Date: OPEN DAILYTime: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PMLocation: JBA Community Commons, 1442 Concord Ave, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland 20762Details: Did you miss the Grand Opening ribbon-cutting ceremony?! No problem you can still visit daily. The hours of the indoor playground will be the same as the normal JBA Community Commons hours (Monday to Saturday 7 am. to 8 p.m.) except in the case of reservations by private parties. Please reach out to their page directly for more details. This is for base access DOD and Military ID families.Event Type: Grand OpeningAge Group: All AgesCost: FREERegistration: Drop-In

Details: Interact with the peoples of the past. Soldiers will be drilling, firing muskets, and performing various duties required while stationed at the fort; cooking, guard mount, etc. There will be civilians about as well, women who are visiting their husbands, and those who are helping with the Ladies Aid Society, as well as others who would have business with the fort.

As you enter the fort, you will be transported back to February 1863, so brush up on your history and come on out.

Plus, the Arlington House Victorian Dance Society will be holding a dance for the soldiers and you from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. You can enjoy the dance, but we would love for you to join in a dance or two as well. (Ladies a safety issue, please no high heel shoes if you participate.)

Details: Come out to cheer on your favorite team at this years CSM Robotics Challenge. This program was started in 2007 as one of the projects funded through the college’s National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. This event has grown over the years to become the premier robotics competition event in Southern Maryland. Only registered team members and coach are allowed in the arena. Spectators can watch the matches from the bleachers accessible from the second floor.

Details: Attend the free babywearing informational meeting in Lexington Park. ALL are welcome! Bring a carrier that you’d like to work with or try some of ours from the carrier lending library. If you try one you like, and want to join BWI ($30 per year), you can even take a carrier home to try it out for a month. Membership is only required to borrow, not to attend meetings.Event Type: Mom Support

Date: February 10, 2018Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PMLocation: Heritage Chocolates, Leonardtown, MDDetails: Our famous Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are BACK in time for Valentine’s Day! Join us for this special event in the shop to decorate your own selection of freshly dipped chocolate covered strawberries! Come for a day date with your sweetheart, or bring the family down for a fun outing! We’ll have tons of toppings to choose from, and you can take them home in our limited edition pink box. Dipped to order: $7.99 for a half dozen or $12.49 for a dozen. (**If you cannot come in to decorate your own, you can call to pre-order your strawberries and pick them up in the shop up until Valentine’s Day**)Event Type: WorkshopAge Group: All AgesCost: $2https://www.facebook.com/events/363780077405759/

Details: There will also be a bunch of activities for the kids including inflatables, face painting, Fredericksburg’s Largest Indoor Sandbox, fire safety, meet police & fire heroes, petting zoo, pony rides and more!

SENSORY FRIENDLY FILMDate: Winter Schedule January – FebruaryTime: Week Day Shows 7:00 PM/Saturday Shows 10:00 AMLocation: AMC Movie Theater, Waldorf, MDDesciption: AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society of America to offer unique movie showings where they turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Our Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Tuesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. Please check your local theatre listings for specific showtimes, and don’t forget to share your family fun with #AMCSensoryFriendly.

The theaters typical schedule usually has Saturday films at 10 AM and Tuesday films at 7 PM. Keep in mind things can always change when movie releases are pushed back by studios or we are unable to obtain a booking. In those cases the date for the Sensory Friendly showing typically stays the same but the movie shown may change.Cost: $Registration: Buy tickets online or at the box officeInformation: https://www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films

TOTSICLESDate: FRIDAY’S ONGOINGTime: 10:00 AM- 11 AM (UPDATED NEW TIME AS OF MARCH 2018)Description: A half-hour of self-paced orientation to movement on ice, followed by a cup of hot cocoa and a story read aloud in our warm lobby. Stickers for all after storytime! Children may wear skates or shoes for snow and ice (no smooth-sole or open-toe shoes). Adults wear shoes for snow and ice.Location: Capital Club HouseEvent Type: Parent/ChildAge Group(s): 2-5Registration: Not RequiredCost: $7/VisitMore Information: https://www.charlescountyparks.com

Times: SUNDAYS-12:00 PM – 6:00 PM/ Saturday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMLocation: Family Place to Play, Waldorf, MDDetails: Family Place to Play Fun Center is a large indoor playground that can accommodate private parties and also is a great place to bring kids to play. Open Play provides many different ways for kids to be stimulated both physically and mentally.Event Type: Free PlayAge Group: All AgesCost: $11 (2 Hours)/ 2 and under $6.60Registration: Drop- In WelcomeFAMILY PLACE TO PLAY LINK

Details: Come watch the teens from local high schools compete for the BIG award: Best Improvisation Group! Teens will create hilarious skits on the spot based on suggestions in a family-friendly, county-wide competition.

Location: Dahlgren FFRDetails: Celebrate Mardi Gras, Princess & The Frog style at the Dahlgren Library, followed by a free movie! Beginning at 1 p.m., enjoy crafts and games at the Library. Then at 4 p.m., catch a free showing of The Princess and the Frog at the Dahlgren Theater.Event Type: FamilyAge Group: All AgesCost: FREERegistration: Open to all with base accessInformation: EVENT LINK

Roller-skating is one way for kids to get some exercise and it’s something the whole family can do. Waldorf Roller Skating Center Roller and Inline Skating Rink offers open skating, where the rink is open to the public, as well as private access to the skating rink for events such as a birthday party. The rink offers rentals for regular roller skates and you are free to bring your own regular or inline skates. For beginners, skating classes are available for kids and adults of all ages. ***Always call first or check site before attending event***

Details: Join the Arlington House Victorian Dance Society as they instruct on the etiquette of Victorian dance. Join in the dance, instruction is provided, or watch the dance. We ask that participants are a minimum of 10 years old and ladies not wear heels. Meet us at the Enlisted Men’s Barracks at 1:00 for the step off.

LIFE SIZED GAMESDate: SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTHTime: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PMLocation: PD BROWN LibraryDetails: In this monthly series we play a different life-sized game each month. So far we have played Clue, Chess, Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies, Pac-Man and many others. In December we will play Mancala.Event Type: Family Game NightAge Group: All AgesCCPL CALENDAR LINK

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF THE PLAYFUL PARENT

Welcome to The Playful Parent! My name is Kristy and I am a mother of two energetic boys. I believe that children learn through play! I love to do fun things with my children and hope that sharing our adventures provides other families with inspiration and resources that lead to quality time together and a love for learning! I started this site so parents would have a family friendly place to come to, feel supported and leave with information that is useful. This site is kept advertisement and influence free in order to keep the site from clutter and non-bias opinion. since it is non-monetized and profit free; your feedback, likes and comments on social media is how I get support from other companies to provide the community with free events and information.